Longevity Expert Peter Attia Exits David Protein Amid Epstein Ties Fallout

Peter Attia stepped down from David Protein's advisory board Wednesday, severing ties with the protein bar company launched by RXBar co-founder Peter Rahal. The longevity physician, known for his podcast and bestselling book on lifespan extension, faced renewed scrutiny over documented connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Attia's own anti-aging startup declined immediate comment on the move.

David Protein raised $50 million last year to challenge Kind and RXBar in the functional snack market. Attia joined as scientific advisor in 2025, lending credibility to claims of optimized protein blends for metabolic health. His exit follows a Wall Street Journal report detailing Epstein's 2017 outreach to Attia for funding his early health tech efforts.

Attia's personal venture, Early Medical, secured $20 million in seed funding for personalized longevity protocols using continuous glucose monitoring and rapamycin analogs. Investors included Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. The company paused public statements pending internal review.

Rahal built David Protein around clean ingredients and science-backed formulations after selling RXBar to Kellogg for $600 million in 2018. Attia's involvement drove endorsements targeting biohackers and keto dieters. Sales hit $30 million annualized before the controversy erupted.

Epstein links trace to logs showing Attia attended a 2011 dinner with the financier alongside Jeff Bezos and Sergey Brin. Attia described the encounter as brief and professional, focused on health research funding. No financial ties materialized.

The split underscores risks in wellness branding. David Protein shifted messaging to athlete testimonials overnight. Early Medical's silence fuels speculation of deeper boardroom pressure from venture backers wary of scandal adjacency.

Longevity sector matures amid regulatory eyes. FDA warnings hit unproven lifespan claims last quarter. Attia's departure tests David Protein's growth trajectory while spotlighting vetting gaps in founder networks.